Is qualitative and quantitative metabarcoding of dung fauna biodiversity feasible

摘要: In biodiversity assessments, especially of small-bodied organisms for which taxonomic expertise is lacking, identification by genetic barcoding may be a cost-effective and efficient alternative to traditional species morphology, ecology, behavior. The authors tested the feasibility accuracy such an approach using dung insects practical relevance in ecotoxicological assessments veterinary pharmaceutical residues environment. They produced 8 known mixtures that varied absolute relative composition large-bodied see whether mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 picks up all qualitatively quantitatively. As demonstrated before other contexts, metabarcoding large numbers insect specimens principally possible next-generation sequencing. recovered most sample (low type I error), at minimum permitting analysis richness. obtained even quantitative responses reflecting body size species, although number was not well detected. latter problematic when calculating diversity indices. Nevertheless, method yielded too many closely related false positives (type II thus generally overestimating These errors can reduced refining methods data filtering, this requires bioinformatics often unavailable where research carried out. Identification foremost hinges on good reference database, does yet exist but would worth developing applications. Environ Toxicol Chem 2016;35:1970-1977. © 2015 SETAC.